7 Questions College Bound Parents Ask About FASFA Financial Aid

What is the difference between FAFSA and CSS Profile? The FAFSA and CSS Profile are the two primary forms required to apply for financial aid. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form that you must fill out in order to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid (including grants, loans, and work-study programs). In addition to filling out a FAFSA, many colleges will require you to submit a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE online. Many colleges require both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA application to determine your financial aid eligibility and to calculate your family's EFC. The FAFSA uses the Federal Methodology to calculate your family's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) while the CSS Profile uses the Institutional Methodology.